Glyphosate - The Most Widely Used Toxic Chemical Ever!

[Thelma Sanders]

This is the EU definition of a pesticide:
A 'pesticide' is something that prevents, destroys, or controls a harmful organism ('pest') or disease, or protects plants or plant products during production, storage and transport.

The term includes, amongst others: herbicides, fungicides, insecticides......

That's the EU for you!

Thank goodness the World Health Organization's IARC knows the difference in its reports.

[skeggijon]

WHO definition of pesticides:
Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture, to kill pests that damage crops. By their nature, pesticides are potentially toxic to other organisms, including humans, and need to be used safely and disposed of properly.

WHO | Pesticides

[muddled]

I do understand that brand bashing is prohibited so I won't get into debate about Monsanto

But I will say that scientists are unlikely ever to all agree on anything, surely?
It is the very role of a scientist to question and attempt to disprove what has gone before in order to further our knowledge of science.

I am very concerned about the widespread and indiscriminate use of glyphosate, both globally and locally.
Last year a council employee, dressed in a white boiler suit and huge 'spaceman' boots, sprayed the stuff all along the bottom of the fence round our park. When I asked him what it was and queried its use where children play he was most affronted.

He screeched at me that Glyphosate was harmless to dogs and children...a minor irritant to plants was all (visions of dandelions sneezing) and nothing whatever to worry about.

At least, I think that's what he said. It was hard to make out through his HazMat mask

I rang the council who told 'Its not at all dangerous'
How can you be sure? I asked

Because we spray all the pavements in the borough with it and we wouldn't, would we, if was dangerous?


Silly me.
Absolutely blimmin terrifying.

[skeggijon]

Wasn't the same said about the use of DDT when it was widely used as an insecticide?

[Potstubsdustbins]

They say that statistics can be used to prove anything, it what the reader makes of those statistics.

Its that old cherry 30% off all road accidents are caused by drunk drivers. So 70% are caused by stone cold sober drivers. Does that mean we should all get sloshed before we get behind the wheel.

By the way I don't trust so called Scientists or take them at face value, they have been proved wrong to many times in my lifetime.

Now I want to set posters a challenge lets see if we can get through this without the mods having to close the thread, there's a first time for everything.

[veggiechicken]

Now I want to set posters a challenge lets see if we can get through this without the mods having to close the thread, there's a first time for everything.

I'm ready


so play nice

[skeggijon]

^^^ It would be nice. When I started this thread, it was just something I read and decided to flag it up.
Everyone has their opinion, but they don't need to be offensive to anyone with the opposite view.
My own opinion is that some gardeners will use any means available to remove weeds and that is their choice. If others choose to deal with them through non chemical means then that is their choice too.
I respect all the grapes who have expressed their views and would like to think that they can show the same respect to their fellow members.

[Potstubsdustbins]

By hecky thump VC that is a very nasty pointy stick you've got your hands on.

Time for me iron pants me thinks.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Pots! It ain't the pants VC sticks it in!

You really need one of these!



Believe me! I've received it a few times!

[veggiechicken]

Deano, you were let off lightly with the Nose job

[Kirk]

Like most things if you want to use it then do so sensibly.
There are times when it is useful for whatever task.

My neighbour 3 doors away had to use some because it was somewhat oddly about the only option open to her.

As to the most used I doubt it, on my drive to work through East Anglia I see many a tractor spraying a field. They may not do it often but they are damn big fields and there are a lot of them. Also the stuff they have access to makes glyphosphate look tame.

[Alison]

My neighbour 3 doors away had to use some because it was somewhat oddly about the only option open to her.

Slightly off topic but I'm very nosey. It does sound odd, what circumstances only gave one option (whatever hat option was)? Genuinely can't think of any occaision where I've not had some choice, even if some were a bit impractical and / or expensive and it's annoying me I can't work it out.